Stones Cover Album From 1964 Scores 6 Out of 10

12 × 5 is a weak album, and it knows it. The Rolling Stones made it in 1964, and it’s a collection of covers with just three original songs scattered through it. The record is trying to be a statement, but it mostly settles for a collection of songs that worked for other bands. What holds it together is the chemistry between Jagger and Richards, and the rest of the record is a grab bag of filler.

Opening With Covers

The album opens with “Around and Around,” a blues standard that sets the tone for what follows. It’s competent but unremarkable, a warm-up rather than a statement. “Confessin’ the Blues” follows, and here the band finds its footing. The song carries a sharp edge that the rest of the record doesn’t match, and it remains one of the strongest moments on the record.

“Empty Heart” continues the covers without much friction. It’s pleasant but forgettable, part of a stretch of songs that pass without leaving much of an impression.

The Middle Stretch

“Time Is on My Side” is the standout of the album’s middle section. It’s an original, and it’s the best song on the record. The melody is strong, and the band’s performance carries real weight. It’s the kind of song that could have been a hit if the production hadn’t held it back.

“Good Times, Bad Times” is a cover, and it works better than most of the other covers here. It’s a solid, driving track that shows the band’s ability to handle a blues-rock groove. It’s not a revelation, but it’s a welcome one.

“It’s All Over Now” is another highlight. It’s an original, and it’s one of the band’s most famous songs. The song’s slow build and Jagger’s sneering delivery make it a genuine standout. It’s the kind of track that proves the band could write something worth keeping.

The Back Half

“2120 South Michigan Avenue” is a cover that doesn’t leave much of an impression. It’s a competent performance, but it’s easy to forget once the record ends. “Under the Boardwalk” follows, and it’s another cover that doesn’t add much to the album’s identity.

“Congratulations” is a pop cover that feels out of place. It’s a bright, cheerful track, and it sits oddly next to the grittier material around it. “Grown Up Wrong” is a cover that passes without much note. It’s a brief, minor track that doesn’t demand attention.

“If You Need Me” is a cover that closes the album’s middle section. It’s a solid track, but it doesn’t do much to lift the record’s overall quality.

“Susie Q” closes the album. It’s a rockabilly cover that gives the record a final burst of energy, but it’s over quickly and leaves the album on a note that’s more energetic than memorable.

What Works, What Doesn’t

The original songs are the engine of the record. “Time Is on My Side” and “It’s All Over Now” are the two best tracks here, and they’re both originals. “Confessin’ the Blues” is the standout cover, a blues song that captures the band’s early identity better than anything else on the album.

The covers that don’t work tend to be the ones that feel like they were picked for convenience rather than character. “2120 South Michigan Avenue” and “Grown Up Wrong” are the weakest tracks on the record, and they’re the ones that make the album feel thin.

The production is dated, and it holds the band back. The songs are there, but they’re buried under a sound that doesn’t give them room to breathe.

The Verdict

12 × 5 is a weak album, but it’s a weak album with some strong moments. The originals and the Womack covers are worth hearing, and they show a band with real potential even when the record around them is uneven. The covers that don’t work are the problem, and they drag the whole project down.

This is a record that matters more as a historical document than as a listening experience. It shows where the Stones were headed, even if it doesn’t fully get there.

Key Facts
– Artist: The Rolling Stones
– Album: 12 × 5
– Release: 1964
– Tracks: 12
– Total running time: 30 minutes
– Original songs: 3
– Best tracks: “Time Is on My Side,” “It’s All Over Now,” “Confessin’ the Blues”
– Score: 6 of 10

1960s music · album review · British Invasion · classic rock · Rolling Stones